Upholstering press



J. KRAMER, F. 0. K UEHNE, 1a., AND C. T. METZGER.

UPHOLSTERING PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7. 192:.

Patente Apr. 18, 1922;

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1- ma firmer:

J. KRAMER, F. KUEHNE, In AND C. T. METZGER.

UPHOLSTERING PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7. 1921..

1,4123%, Patented Apr. 11.8, 1922.

3 S HEETSSHEET 2- MnZZra,

JULIUS KRAMER, FRED 0. KUEHITE, JR., AND CHAR-"LES T. ME'EZGER, 0F CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS, ASSIGNQRS TO PULLMAN DAVENPORT AND UPHOLSTERY FURNI- TURECOMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINQIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

'UPHOLSTEBING FRESS.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented Apr. 18, 1922.

T 0 all w ham it may concern:

Be it known that we, JULIUs KRAMER, FRED O. Knnnnn, Jr., and CHAnLns T. Mn'rzcnn, citizens of the United States, all residing in Chicago, in the county of Cook and the State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Upholstering Presses, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

The purpose of this invention is to provide convenient means for holding the component parts of a spring seat cushion or similar element of upholstery during the application of the covering material to the frame, such means being adapted to compress the springs of the element so that when released they will react to stretch the covering smoothly and firmly into shape. A device meeting these requirements is here inafter described and shown in the drawings and the invention consists of certain features and elements thereof as indicated by the claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section showing the ceiling fixture of the de vice.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a floor stand adapted to co-operate with the ceiling fixture and shown in the drawing in its normal relation thereto.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the ceiling fixture and floor stand cooperating to hold a seat cushion in accordance with the invention.

Figure l is a front elevation of the ceiling fixture shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a rear elevation partly in section showing the floor stand illustrated in Figure 2. v

Figure 6 is a detail section taken as indicated at line 66 on Figure 5 to show the gear and clutch construction of the floor stand.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of a modified machine embodying this invention showing parts of the machine and parts of the cushion in section.

Figure 8 is an elevation partly in section showing a modification.

In using this device in the manufacture of upholstered seat cushions and the like, the

cushion assembly comprising its frame with the usual co1led springs applied thereto and with the upholstered padding properly positioned over the springs is placed in inverted position upon what is to be the inner surface of the cover material and this material is supported preferably in a prepared mold or form which in turn is carried upon the floor stand which in the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 6 constitutes one essential part of the device. Over the mold on the inverted frame of the cushion a platformor tablet, A, serves to transmit pressure from a ceiling fixture vertically aligned with the floor stand as shown in Figure 3.

The ceiling fixture consists of a plunger, 1, slidably carried in an upper guide, 2, whose base flange, 3, is secured to the ceiling or to a suitable bracket supported thereon. integral with the base, 3, and guide sleeve, 2, there are provided sockets, e, in which are secured depending tubular posts, 5, connected at their lower ends by a cast fitting, 6, providing second guideway at 7 for the lower end of the plunger, 1. At this end the plunger is provided with pressure block or crosshead, 8, having a ball and socket connection with the plunger so as to readily accommodate itself to the position assumed by the frame of the seat cushion. The ceiling fixture also includes a pair of lugs, 9, supporting a fulcrum pin, 10, for the lever, 11, and a link, 12, pivotally connected with the said lever at 18 extends for pivotal connection. with a yoke, 1 secured to the plunr, 1, so that the lever, 11, and link, 12, con- .tute toggle which is substantially self locking when the lever is swung down into vertical position as shown in Figure 3. The plunger, 1, is of such length that at this positionits pressureblock, 8, comes to a convenient' height at which the cushion frame may be supported for attachment of its cover.

The floor stand which supports the frame and the cushion parts against the pressure block, 8, of the ceiling fixture comprises a standard, 15, in which there is mounted for vertical adjustment a post or plunger, 16, carrying at its upper end a four-armed spider, 17, which supports a platform or tablet, 18, of any convenient dimensions suitable to the particular cushion which is being assembled. Vertical adjustment of the posts, 16, is accomplished by means of a jack screw, 19, guided in a bearing, 20, formed in the standard, 15, and raised or lowered by means of a nut, 21, resting upon a step bearing, 22, of the standard, 15. The step bearing is lubricated from an annular oil reservoir, 22 formed in the standard and supplied with a cover, 22*, as shown in Figure 5. The nut has a bevel pinion, 23, keyed to it and meshing with the bevel gear, 24, on the shaft, 25, journaled in bearings, 26, which are formed as an integral part of the standard, 15. The shaft, 25, carries two driving pinions, 27 and 28, each operatively connected therewith by a one-way ball clutch as illustrated in Figure 6 and consisting of balls, 29, lodged in suitably shaped pockets, 30, positioned in the gears adjacent the shaft, 25.- These clutches in the two gears, 27 and 28, are arranged to operate in respectively opposite directionsand driving racks, 31 and 32, are provided for said gears respectively meshing at opposite sides of the gears so that the upward stroke of either rack will operate its gear in the direction in which said will be clutched to the shaft, 25, for turning it. Foot pedals, 33 and 341-, are attached respectively to the rack bars, 31 and 32, the former being connected to its rack nearer its fulcrum, 35, than the latter. This gives the operator some leverage on the jack screwwhen operating it through the pedal, 33, which is the means of raising the screw and compressing the springs of the seat cushion carried on the platform, 18. For releasing this pressure and returning the screw to its lower limit less power is required and a quicker action is desirable; therefore, the pedal, 34:, is designed with less leverage so as to move its rack, 31, through a greater distance for each stroke of the pedal. As shown in Figure 5 the jack screw, 19, is connected by across pin, 36, with the post, 16, and the latter is held against turning by any suitable key secured b the screw 3? ro'ectin to en- 7 9 b gage a longitudinal groove, 38, in the side of the post, 16, as it rises through the upper guide bearing, 39, of the standard, 15.

i As seen in Figure 6 which is typical of I the rack and gear construction, the rack bar is guided between blocks or checks, 4:0,

secured to a plate, 41, which is hung upon the shaft, 25, and carries, a reaction roller, 12, for contact with the back face of the rack opposite the gear with which it engages; Preferably the teeth of each gear are chamfered on one side giving them a ratchet like appearance and insuring easy disengagement from the teeth of the rack in i the idle stroke of the latter as it moves downward.

It will be understood that when the cover,

C, of the seat cushion has been securely tacked or otherwise attached to the frame, B, the cushion will be quickly released by swinging the lever arm, 11, to the position illustrated in Figure 1 thus raising the pressure block, 8. Then if the next cushion is of different depth or if the compression of its springs will require more power than can be exerted through the toggle lever, 11, the platform, 18, will be lowered by one or more strokes of the pedal, 34L, to provide a space between said platform, 18, and the pressure block, 8, which will accommodate the seat cushion with its springs uncompressed. Then by actuating the pedal, 33, the operator may slowly raise the platform and compress the springs of the cushion.-

If desired the mechanism for compressing the springs and also for quickly releasing the pressure may be combinedin a single clevice such as that shown in Figure 7 in which a frame or support, 50, is secured to the ceiling structure and provides guidance for a vertically adjustable jack screw, 51, connected at its upper end to a guide member, 52, having a groove, 53, in which a key is positioned by retaining screws, 54, to prevent its rotation. The nut for the screw, 51, is

provided with a bevel pinion, 55, meshing with a gear, 56, on the shaft, 57, journaled in a bearing, 58, formed in the frame, 50. A hand wheel, 59, fixed on the shaft, 57, may be operated at all times for rotating the shaft in either direction for bringing the jack screw down close to the work or for releasing the latter quickly from the pressure of the ack.

However, to provide a'suitable leverage for application of the pressure through the jack screw, 51, the shaft, 57, is fitted with a hand lever, 60, considerably longer than the radius of the wheel, 59, and'carrying a dog, 61, adapted to engage teeth, 62, of a ratchet wheel secured near the end of the shaft, 57

so that by successively swinging movements of the lever, 60, the gears, 56 and 55 may be rotated and the screw, 51, fed gradually down for sufficiently compressing the springs, D, of the cushion. The upward thrust against the nut and gear pinion,-55, is taken by a sleeve, 63, interposed between the pinion and a boss or 11 ,113, 64, on the frame, 50, which forms the guide for the member, 52. With this outfit the cushion is supported on a bench or table, 65, positioned under the frame, 50, and preferably the cushion is confined in a mold, 66, having an interior conformation corresponding to the finished shape of the cushion. The mold may be prepared in plastic material such as plaster Paris and hardened for use, in which case it will be contained in a box or frame, 67. A. suitable tablet or platform, 68, is provided for transmitting pressure-to the springs, D, from the cross head or pressure block, 69, carried on the spherical head, 70, at the lower end of the aclr screw, 51.

It may be further understood that for working upon relatively longer cushions such as davenport or sofa seats a plurality 'of pressure devices may be utilized; usually two suchdevices will be sufficient if connected by a continuous platform or tablet of some kind for transmitting and distributing pressure to the entire spring supplied area of the cushion.

Such an arrangement is shown in Figure 8 in which a press, 50, of the type shown in Figure 7 is coupled to a press, 50*, by a shaft, 57*, connecting the gear, 56, of one press with the gear 56*, of the other. I single hand-wheel, 59, rigid on the shaft, 57*, and a single lever, 60, will serve to operate both presses simultaneously in either direction. The pressure members, 69, both engage a tablet, 68*, extending over the entire area of the cushion.

It will be understood that compression of the cushion may be effected by buckling the toggle connection of the overhead pressure device, and by the jack screw of the adjustable support. But ordinarily in the operation of the construction the jack screw will be adjusted experimentally in the compression of the first cushion of the lot of the same character'and dimensions, and thereafter during operation for compressing the remainder of the lot, no change will be made in the jack screw, compression being efiected by means of the overhead toggle device. For this reason it is convenient to distinguish the overhead device and support for the same in the claims by the terms pressure device and support respectively.

We claim 1. An upholstering press comprising a support and a pressure-resisting device adapted to receive a spring cushion between them, the support comprising a jack screw,

gear means for operating the jack screw, and" means for alternatively rotating said gear means in either direction at will.

2. An upholstering press comprising a. support and a pressure-resisting device adapted to receive a spring cushion between them, the support comprising a jack screw, beveled gear means for operating the j aclr screw; two clutch means for actuating said gear means, in opposite directions of rotation, and means for operating said clutch. means one at a time alternatively at will.

3. An upholstering press comprising a support and a pressure-resisting device adapted to receive a spring cushion between them, the support comprising a jack screw and a standard in which the same is mounted; a nut mounted for rotation in the standard engaging the jack screw; gear means for rotating the nut; two oppositelyoperating clutch devices for driving the gear means, and separate means operable selectively at will for rotating the two clutch? means.

4. In the construction defined in claim 3, foregoing, two pedals and connections from them respectively to the two clutch operating means, the clutch operating mean-s being adapted to be rotated by the clutch engagement in the reverse directions from those in which they respectively operate the clutches, whereby the operation of either pedal for operating the clutch with which it is associated, reverses the other pedal;

5. An upholstering press comprising a support and a pressure device, said support comprising a standard with a jack screw journaled therein and mounted for vertical adjustment, a platforin engaged by said jack screw for compressing the cushion, a nut for the jack screw having a bevel'pinion rigid therewith, a shaft horizontally journaled in the standard carrying a bevel gear in mesh with said pinion, a rack mounted for vertical reciprocation and a gear positioned to mesh with said rack connected by a oneway clutch to said shaft, together with an operating lever connected to the rack and separate means for turning the shaft in the opposite direction.

6. In the combination defined in claim 5, said means for reversing the rotation of the shaft comprising a second gear and a oneway clutch connecting it to said shaft for rotation in said opposite direction, together with a second rack therefor.

7. An upholstering press comprising a upport'and a pressure device, said support comprising a frame with a jack screw journaled ther in and mounted for vertical adjustment, a tablet or platform engaged be tween said jack screw and the cushion for distributing pressure to the latter, a nut for the jack screw and a bevel pinion rigid therewith, a shaft horizontally journaled in the frame carrying a bevel gear in mesh with said pinion together with an operating lever and a one-way drive connection between said lever and the shaft and separate means for turning the shaft in the opposite direction.

In testimony whereof, we havehereunto set our hands at Chicago, Illinois this 29th day of January, 1921..

JULIUS KRAMER. FR ED O. KUEI-INE, JR. CHAS. T. METZGER.

and operating lever 

